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Posted: 2/12/2010 11:55:03 AM EDT
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How do these barrels differ? Which would suit my purposes best?
Target shooting 25m out to 350-400m. SHTF/HD - Training/classes - Perhaps i am even looking at the wrong barrel profiles, and another might be a better choice. New to the ar.....a lil' gunsquito bit me several months back and have not recovered from brs, nor do i expect to, just quell the out breaks with new builds. 
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-18-SPR-SS410-Barrel-Rifle-Length-Gas-Ionbond-p/bcm%20ss410%2018-8%20ib%20bk.htm http://global-tactical.com/spr-m18inch556mmmidweightbarrelwithionbond.aspx http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bin/imcart/display.cgi?item_id=b-18-556&cat=17&page=1&search=&since=&status= http://www.ar15barrels.com/prod/spr.shtml http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/barrels.htm White Oak Armament SPECIAL PURPOSE RIFLE (SPR) Match Barrel |
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Stainless barrel is stainless steel and is a different material than a chrome moly barrel. Stainless steel 410 is a harder stainless steel than stainless 416. 416 is what most manufacturers make their stainless barrels out of.
Cold hammer forging is a process of making a barrel: http://www.rifleshootermag.com/gunsmithing/RSgunsmith1/ Accuracy. A few things to consider when talking about accuracy. Many guys get wrapped around the axel about group size instead on staying focused on "practical accuracy". Often times I see guys getting in heated debates about 1/2" between two different guns and a majority of their shooting will be done at less than 100 yards, with a non-magnified red dot sight, using 55 grain ammo (not match ammo) that they got at Wal-Mart or the local sporting goods store. If you look around the internet, you'll hear a lot of chatter about how much more accurate a stainless barrel is over a chrome lined barrel. Generally a stainless barrel is more accurate than a chrome lined barrel, but not always by a huge margin. One example of many, take a look at the info Molon posted in the link below. Compare the group sizes of the Noveske 16" stainless barrel (0.92" average) to the Noveske 16" N4 barrel (1.24" average): http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=467919 The difference is just slightly more than 1/3" (one third of an inch). When considering accuracy a few things you may want to ask yourself: Are you going to be shooting ammo (ie. match ammo), with optics (ie. 10x or greater), in conditions (ie. a bench), at distances, etc. that 1/3" is going to matter? Also is your skill set good enough that you can consistantly see 1/3" to 1/2" difference between two barrels on a constant basis? More food for thought when thinking about accuracy: 
03designgroup | Which Carbine Is More Accurate 
Generally a stainless barrel will be more accurate than a Chrome-Moly-Vanadium (CMV) barrel. Not by a huge margin. One example of many, take a look at the info Molon posted in the link below. Compare the group sizes of the Noveske 16" stainless barrel (0.92" average) to the Noveske 16" N4 barrel (1.24" average): http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=467919 The difference is just slightly more than 1/3" (one third of an inch) Generally a stainless barrel will have a slightly shorter service life. Don't take this comment to the extreme. Because stainless steel is a softer metal it will be effected by heat more than a CMV chrome line barrel. Heat is the main contributing factor to shortening the service life of any barrel. Heat and firing tempo have a greater effect on shortening the life of a stainless barrel. Generally a stainless barrel will usually be a heavier countour and thus will be slightly heavier than a CMV barrel. Weight comparisions: 
03designgroup | AR15 Upper Receiver Weight Comparisons
With this being said, Pat Rogers has 29,000 rounds through a standard BCM 16" mid-length barrel, and it's still going strong. Consider that this barrel has been used in a training class enviornment it's entire life. Everytime the gun is rented to a student it's being shot 8+ hours a day and having approximately 1,300 rounds put down range in a 3 day class. None of use have the time or money to abuse a barrel like that. Match and tactical training pics and info using standard chrome lined, cold hammer forged, and stainless barrels can be seen in this article: 
03designgroup | BCM Complete AR15 Upper and Lower Receivers
For most of us, practical accuracy is much more important than group size. I don't have a problem hitting smaller than average targets out to 425 yards with a 3.5x ACOG or Leupold 1.5-5x with my standard chrome lined, cold hammer forged (chrome lined), or stainless barrels using XM193, Winchester Q3131A, Federal American Eagle 55 grain, Black Hills 55 grain, and other 55 grain ammo. For a hard use, high round count, training gun I would select a chrome lined barrel over a stainless barrel. Hope this helps |
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I own the Noveske, White Oak and Denny's barrels you highlighted and can highly recomend any of them. Get Denny's 18" ion bond coated Douglas ss 1/7 or 1/8 when they come back in stock. You'll love it.
I have a lot of rifles that will consistently shoot close to 1/2" ten shot groups at 100 yards. Using sand bags front and rear, high power scope and my custom loaded ammo using match grade bullets. I even have a chrome lined barrel (Colt) that will shoot under an inch with good ammo. What the previous poster wanted you to know is that any decent AR will save your behind and that nobody gets to use 24X target scopes and sand bags front and rear in a fire fight. Useable accuracy is just as dealy as a 1/2" grouping rifle. With that being said I love accurate rifles. I pay more to get more. I'm perfectly confortable using my cheapest standard issue chrome lined barrel to defend myself or shoot a combat course. But I prefer high dollar, high quality, custom gunsmithed barrels because they can do it all. Very close to a semi-automatic benchrest rifle. One thing for sure is that I have never regretted buying up, and paying up, when it comes to barrel purchases. I'll continue to do so. |
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Hope this helps indeed it does. thank you. i think i got it... so i COULD have a ferarri, but won't realize its top speeds in day to day traffic and unless i'm out on the track racing others it's overkill. but the "honda" will do just fine in practical, day to day settings. |
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Quoted:
With that being said I love accurate rifles. I pay more to get more. I'm perfectly confortable using my cheapest standard issue chrome lined barrel to defend myself or shoot a combat course. But I prefer high dollar, high quality, custom gunsmithed barrels because they can do it all. Very close to a semi-automatic benchrest rifle. One thing for sure is that I have never regretted buying up, and paying up, when it comes to barrel purchases. I'll continue to do so. i hear ya there my friend. i too am fan of quality and better quality. i may take the advice given and go std/gov 16" on this build....learn more the intricacies and for the next build choose components that lend themselves to being suitable for a longer range instrument. thanks for the info |
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